5 early contenders for the NY Jets first-round pick in 2023

The NY Jets have the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. After a great start to the season, it is bittersweet to see them pick in the top 15 for the seventh year in a row.

Although 13 is usually an unlucky number, the 13th pick has seen some really good players taken in recent years. Jordan Davis, Christian Wilkins, Daron Payne, Haason Reddick, and even Aaron Donald have been selected 13th.

More importantly for the Jets, 13 has been a sweet spot for offensive tackles, which could very well be the way the Jets go come April.

Rashawn Slater, Tristan Wirfs, and Laremy Tunsil were the last three offensive tackles to be taken at 13. If the Jets go that route, it's safe to say they will hope to acquire a player of this caliber.

Here are five early contenders for the Jets first-round pick.

1. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

Speaking of Rashawn Slater, here we see his replacement at Northwestern, Peter Skoronski. Skoronski took over at left tackle as a true freshman after Slater left for the NFL and has excelled there over the last three years.

Skoronski only allowed five sacks throughout his college football career and got better each year. One concern with Skoronski is his size; he's 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds but has shorter arms than you would want in an offensive tackle. This could lead to a team wanting to move him to guard.

However, there were similar concerns with Slater coming out of college as well, and he has not had any problems as an offensive tackle in the NFL.

Overall, Skoronski is many people's top offensive tackle in this year's draft, so you would think that he doesn't make it to pick 13, but maybe the size and length concerns turn some teams away and the Jets could get a steal.

Whether he plays tackle or guard, the Jets would be getting a really good offensive lineman for a team that needs one.